Universal stud

ABSTRACT

A framing system for a wall that uses just one type of unit. The Universal Stud is the same unit that serves as its own plate or track. A plurality of the stud having the same slot configuration at each end and two sides of the stud receiving that same slot allows for a multitude of jobs to be done with just one type of unit. The Universal Stud flange sides are mended with holes along it to allow wiring and pipes to be hung off it and still not endangering cutting them. Also, the Universal Stud wall has inherent qualities to it that is the solution to many job problems. (thinner, any profile to each side, soundproof, chases within it, bracing construction, and the flexibility to be used within other stud walls)

This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No.60/591,371 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Hence forth the Universal Stud is the name for unit for which the patentis being applied.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of wall framing andparticularly to specific areas and jobs of framing that the ordinary “C”has a problem doing or can not do physically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently, the art of wall framing systems is rendered inefficient inseveral physical respects. Many of these inefficiencies arise from thelimitations of the standard “C” stud. At the present time the standard“C” stud is designed to make straight walls 4½″ thick with only metalelectrical conduit running through it. The standard stud system needsspecial studs and tools to complete most framing projects. The areasthat the standard “C” stud has to have special studs and tools on thejob site in order to frame is:

-   A) Sound proofing the walls-   B) Creating curves laterally-   C) Creating curves vertically-   D) Creating curves both laterally and vertically at the same time-   E) Creating 2½″ finished walls that both where wires can be run and    at the same time be sound proof.-   F) Creating any thickness walls that can curve or angle or go    straight independent of the other side of the wall.-   G) Create remodeled walls that can be extended to make contact with    both the floor and the ceiling-   H) Create braces and supports easily-   I) Easily install wires after the wall has been completed-   J) Fur-out walls only using 2″ of floor space and still run    electrical wires-   K) Install 1½″ drain lines in the standard 4½″ thick walls-   L) Run electrical, pipes, computer, security, sound, and telephone    through the chases in the wall-   M) Easy to attach rough-in fixtures to the interior of the walls    using only zip ties-   N) Creating bulkheads and unusual wall configurations.    The above fourteen jobs can all be completed by just having the    Universal Stud on the job site.

SUMMARY OF THE UNIVERSAL STUD

The Stud is much smaller than the standard stud and measures 1½″ onedirection and 1″ the other direction and comes in the same lengths thatthe standard stud comes in (eight and ten feet). The Stud also differsin that the Stud also doubles as the plates for itself. The Stud has ateach end a slot (FIGS. 1-5) that widens at each end to allow it to beslid easily (FIGS. 1-1) over the walls of the plates (FIGS. 1-6). Theslots allows for the Studs to be extended to meet the ceiling heights.In the middle of the 1½″ side and at each end of the Stud is apre-drilled hole (FIGS. 1-3) to make it user friendly to screw the Studto the plate (FIGS. 1-7). Along each open side of the Stud, the metal ishemmed over (FIGS. 1-4) to both give the stud strength and leave smoothedges along which the wiring run without it being cut. Also along one ofthe hemmed sides, holes are placed every foot (FIGS. 1-8) to allow theuse of zip ties at multiple heights. (See FIG. 1)

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated andspecific language will be used to describe the same. It willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of scope of the inventionis thereby intended, such alterations, modifications, and furtherapplications of the principles of the invention being contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a multitude of framing jobsare solved by having the Universal Stud on the job site. The framingsystem includes just one type of unit that doubles for plates and studs.The Universal Stud and or Plate has two flanged sides with mended edgesconnected to a base plate with slots at each end. These slots are usedto interlock the studs over the plates. (both the same units). At eachend of the stud and plate is a hole pre-drilled to make attachment ofthe stud to the plate with ease and to create tight joints. Along one ofthe flanged sides pre-drilled holes are placed every 12″ for ease ofattachment of pipes and wires. (FIG. #1)

In another preferred embodiment when the studs are used with either theUniversal plate or the standard plate, there is a dead air space createdwithin the walls and no studs touching both sides. This both creates achase in every wall to run wires and pipes and with the dead air spaceforms a block for sound to travel in between the two walls. (FIG. #2)

Another preferred embodiment is the ease with which the Universal Studcan construct curved walls either horizontally, vertically or both. Tocurve a wall horizontally the Universal Studs that are to be used forthe plates, are placed on the floor next to the desired curve drawn onthe floor. The plate is cut more often if the curve is sharper and lessfor longer bends. For every needed bend in the bottom plate, a ¼″ peaceof one of the sides is removed and the bottom is cut to the far side.The far side that was not cut is bent to match the curve. The top plateis cut to match the bottom plate but in the mirror image. The studs areplaced with one or more pure flat on the plates. To curve the verticalwalls, simply cut both sides of the stud opposite each other and bendthe stud to match the desired curve. (FIG. #3) & (FIG. #3 a)

Another preferred embodiment, is the ease with which the Universal Studworks in conjunction with standard “C” stud and its plate. Because thestud is only 1″ deep and the plate is 3½″ deep, this leaves 1½″ throughwhich pipes and wires can be run. (FIG. #4)

In another preferred embodiment, the ease with which the Universal Studcan be cut, bent, and re-enforced to make bracing for walls. Because theUniversal Stud's sides are hemmed, this allows the stud to be cut mucheasier than standard “C” stud can and is much smaller and allows bracingto be fit into cramped areas. (FIG. #5)

In another preferred embodiment, the Universal Stud is the only studthat creates a sound proof wall, can run wires through it, and does itall within 2½″ with finished ½″ drywall on both sides. The stud/track isonly 1½″ deep, and as long as the studs are not placed opposite eachother the void area is ½″. The ½″ area becomes the dead air space andthe chase for wiring. (FIG. #6)

In another preferred embodiment, the Universal Stud wall can beassembled on the floor and raised up, assembled with tracks in placefirst, and in cramped areas. It also can be expanded to meet ceilings tomake tight walls in between ceilings and floors. The way that the studslides over the plates, it allows the studs to stay in one spot and theyonly need to be screwed together when the wall is in place. Also becausethe stud slides over the plate, the studs can be raised up before theyare screwed together thus expanding the whole wall. (FIG. #7)

In another preferred embodiment, the Universal Stud can be used tocreate walls to fur out next to walls, fur around pipes, create chasesin walls, and create walls that have two different profiles from oneside to the other. Because the depth of the stud is just 1 1/12″ insteadof 3½″, floor space is usable that would normally be lost under thewall. (FIGS. 8-9) The same thing can be said for the furring out of pipechases or anything that has to alter the wall. (FIGS. 8-10) Where chasesare required to house pipes, ducts, or structural framing within thefinished walls, the Universal Stud wall can be placed on each side ofthe chase. (FIGS. 8-11) Because the walls are looked at from one side ata time not both like the normal “C” stud wall, the configuration of thewall shape on one side can be different from the other side. As anexample, one room could have rounded corners when the room next to itcould have square corners. (FIGS. 8-12)

In another preferred embodiment, the Universal Stud can be cut easily orordered in specific lengths for things such as creating bulkheads. Alsothe studs ability to connect to itself makes it easy to create longwalls or bulk heads that interlock without special bracketing. Whencreating a shorter wall or bulkhead, the Universal Stud is cut to lengthand the original end is slid over the plate with desired spacing. Theother cut end is slid under the top plate or if ordered to length slidover the plate with the slot and screwed off. (FIGS. 9-15) The shortwall or bulkhead is ready to be installed and can be done by one workmanbecause of the light weight of the system. Adding new walls andbulkheads to the installed units is much easier to do than the standard“C” stud. To attach two Universal Plates together simply cut off anangle of one corner of the back ( FIG. 10-14)so that it sides easilyinside the end of the other plate to which it is to be attached. (FIGS.10-13) Both of the sides of the cut plate slide over the outside of thesides of the second plate and the sides of the second plate go inside ofthe cut plate. (FIGS. 10-13) Finally, a screw would be install throughthe hole in the second plate into the cut plate and screws are installedthrough the cut plates sides into the second plate. (FIGS. 10-13)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. #1 the blue print of Universal Stud/Plate according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. #2 a cross-section view of a typical Universal Stud/Plate wallshowing how the stud on one side does not traverse to the other sidethus creating a dead air space according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. #3 and FIG. #3 a are perspective views on how to curve theUniversal Stud/ Plate wall according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. #4 is a perspective view of how the Universal Stud can be used inconjunction with the standard “C” stud wall according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. #5 is a perspective view of how the Universal Stud can be easilyconverted to any kind of bracing according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. #6 are views of how the Universal Stud can create finished walls,sound proof, and still able to run wiring through the wall according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. #7 are views of the procedures to construct a Universal Stud walland how to expand walls to meet ceilings according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. #8 is a perspective view of several types of uses for the UniversalStud walls. It portrays how the Universal Stud/Plate can help withfurring out walls, boxing out pipe chases, typical walls, and same wallthat has different profiles on each side according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. #9 is a perspective view of a complex bulkhead and made simple bythe use of the Universal Stud according to the preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. #10 is two views of the steps necessary the mend plates together.The perspective view shows the cut to allow the back to slide inside theother plate. The top view both shows how the sides are interlockedtogether and where the screws are installed according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

1. The Universal Stud is a metal framing system for walls comprising ofthe same unit for both the stud and the plate or track.
 2. The framingunit of claim 1 has a “C”-shaped cross-section.
 3. The framing unit ofclaim 1 has slots cut in each end intended for attachment to the plates.4. The framing unit of claim 1 has a multitude of longitudinal lengthsin which it comes.
 5. The framing unit of claim 1 when used in a wallonly addresses one side of the wall's stud needs at a time.
 6. TheUniversal Stud framing system for the wall is comprised of a base plate(the framing unit), a top plate (the framing unit), the plurality of aUniversal Stud (the framing unit) wherein each stud has a top end and abase end that has at least one slot slid over the plates.
 7. TheUniversal Stud framing system of claim 6 creates both soundproofing anda chase in the walls.
 8. The Universal Stud framing system of claim 6allows for one side of the wall to have a completely different contour (two parallel plates) than that of the other side or even the wall sidesdo not have to be parallel.
 9. The Universal Stud framing system ofclaim 6 can by cutting the flanges of the stud or cutting one flange andback of the plate make curves in the wall laterally or vertically orboth.